When the contact with the Jupiter defense grid had silenced, the high command of the Alliance began to panic. Captain John Lorenz, now promoted to commanding officer of the Corellia, has immediately contacted his insider with Commander George; Albus Dumbledore.

"Sir, the death toll is catastrophic, we lost every ship in the system, and the gate has been destroyed. Our scouts have found that the Empire has been able to pick their way through the debris field at the entrance to the tunnel. They haven't slowed much at all."

"I see," Dumbledore said, "We must fulfill the prophecy. Commander George must be allowed to fight with the Alliance again."

"Dumbledore, you know that Madison is dead. The entire first fleet was wiped out, including the Rebellia. Madison was Jim's highest ranking supporter. Our cause is not in good shape at all."

"The Rebellia was destroyed?"

Jim walked into the picture, and stood behind Dumbledore. "What about Steve, did he make it out?"

"It doesn't look like anyone made it out, Jim."

Jim seemed to mourn for a moment, and then grow angry. "The Empire will pay for this! Dumbledore, I'm sorry, but I cannot sit around and wait anymore. I'm leaving."

"Jim, you can't," Lorenz said, "You must stay under his care, he is your best hope now."

"To hell with you, if I am this savior you all believe in, perhaps I should just leave."

"You don't believe in the prophecy?" Dumbledore asked, upset, "the fundamental reason we are all helping you?"

"I'm sorry, but after all this, its apparent that I am nothing special. So I have powers. Big deal. Galbraith has powers. You have powers. I'm nothing but another soldier in this war. And if I am to die defying the only force that ever stood in our way, so be it."

"Jim, please…"

"Go to hell."

Jim walked out of the room, with Jessica, Brenton, and Ronald tailing him, pleading with him to change his mind.

Jim walked down the stairs into the alleyway outside the safe house. Max Goodwin, weapons master, was leaning against the wall, asleep. He awoke to hear the shouting voices coming down the stairs.

"What the hell is going on?" Max asked as Jim passed him up.

"I'm leaving."

"Good, it's about damn time we see some action. I'll get my guns."

"Max, don't encourage him!" Jessica scolded. "He will be a target. The Empire wants him, the Alliance hates him…He's going to be alone."

"No he won't," Max said, "He and I have planned this for weeks now."

Max opened up a door to a warehouse garage, where a small shuttle stood.

"I call it the Impendent Danger," Max said, with pride. "We'll be seeing you."

Jim hopped into the cockpit as Max got in the back. The ship roared to life, and began to take off. Ron tried to stop the ship with stunning spells, but to no effect. The ship rose out of the alley, and joined the traffic above. Within seconds, it was out of sight.

"So as I see it," Vice Admiral Walker Russell, "With Madison being killed, we need to elect a new leader."

Admiral Jean-Luc Picard's eyes narrowed, as the members of the Alliance Council murmured in agreement. This could be dangerous.

Princess Leia Organa Solo looked toward Admiral George Dunbar, who ran the Han-Ranian Combine at Alpha Centuari, a major shipyard of the Alliance. He looked at her, concerned.

"What we need is to prepare to save our people," She said, "We can't continue squabbling over who should lead us when the Empire is on our doorstep."

"I agree," Lumbered the Hutt representative, in his native language of Huttse, "We must use whatever means necessary for our protection, above all other things."

"No, we cannot function without a leader. As co-head of the council, I move to a nomination and vote," Russell said.

Presiding over council, Picard had to ask, "Do we have a second to Vice Admiral Russell's move?"

He looked around, seeing several hands and a tentacle rise.

"We will recess for several minutes while we take nominations."

Leia moved immediacy moved toward Dunbar and Picard, who were discussing something quietly during the recess.

She looked toward Picard, who nodded as if to match her concerns. "He nominated himself. Dunbar here nominated you. I was also nominated by General Pepper."

"We can't allow him to take control. He already got rid of George. He could destroy us."

Picard looked back down the table. Dozens of delegates were talking amongst themselves. He called to order, "We are now prepared to vote. The nominations include Princess Leia Organa Solo of the Republic, myself, Admiral Jean-Luc Picard of the Federation, General Byston Ptah of Chronos, Vice Admiral Russell of the Federation, and Commander Gurgon of the Hutt Alliance. Please cast your votes now."

After several minutes, the totals came in to Picard's screen. Russell has won.

"Vice-Admiral, by vote of the Alliance High Council, I hereby promote you to Supreme Allied Commander of all Alliance Military Forces."

Leia closed her eyes as congratulatory comments were directed toward Russell.

"Now," he said, straightening his uniform out, "To our next order of business. I have already initiated several defensive measures, and I believe that the slowdown caused by the gravity gun's collapse will aid us. The Empire has to pick through the rubble, certainly, but they will not be stopped by mere rocks. The tunnel, for the most part, is still intact. We must be prepared for the worst."

"Sir, with all due respect, Shouldn't we call out the special forces? I'm sure that Commander George's commandos will be willing to-"

"George is not a Commander any longer, and will not be referred to as such while I am in command. Is that clear, your highness?"

Leia, taken aback by the hostility from Russell, nodded her head silently. She sat back down, as the Master Chief stood up, and for the first time, vocalized.

"See here, Vice Admiral, I don't give a damn who you are, but you have no right to have any hostility toward Commander George. He did nothing but give his devoted support to this Alliance and these councilors. He is a hero. You are a coward, hiding behind your technicalities and politics. I don't know why I'm even here, I should be fighting."

"I will not tolerate this insubordination!" Russell raised his voice. "You will stand down at once, or I will have you arrested and thrown in the brig."

"That is out of the question, Vice-Admiral."

Picard stood up, now very angry. "You are five minutes into heading this Alliance, and you are already threatening your fellow council members, the best ones at that. You have downplayed everything that Commander Madison and Commander George have done to protect people like you. I, for one, will not stand for this."

"You have no choice, Admiral," Russell said, now eerily calm. "Unless you want to leave this council, and leave Earth defenseless, I suggest you bury your loyalties to a renegade and focus on the task at hand."

Admiral Picard made two fists, but then looked toward the rest of the council. He nodded, and looked over toward Master Chief. Master Chief hesitated, but nodded, and the two of them sat down.

"Now, as Solo was saying… I agree. The commandos formed before George's departure are still very well trained. I here they are the best of the best."

"That I can attest to," Admiral Dugalle said. "They operated under heavy resistance at Dubris, and came out magnificently. They are the best team of commandos ever bred for combat."

Master chief shifted in his seat.

"Then its settled. Delta Squadron will operate on Mars, if the Empire lands there. They will need Mars to mount an attack on Earth, so they will definitely try to land on the ground."

Leia's spirits brightened slightly. Delta Squadron was the best, Jim admitted himself. He had them formed by request of a friend he met while stranded on Japoca, the deserted planet near J'P'Tan. If any team of soldiers could protect Mars, Delta was the ones to fit.

"They won't be alone either," Russell continued. "The United States Military has already hunkered down near the primary Energon mine. Without a renewable source of Energon, their ships may not have the resources to mount a full attack on earth.

Energon, a powerful natural mineral found nearly everywhere in both galaxies, was first used by the Transformers. Terrible wars were fought among the Transformers over Energon, which was first thought to only be found on their home planet, Cybertron.

"I have also enlisted the aid of The Autobots, who have also come to the inner rim to protect Earth. I have personal assurance from Optimus Prime that his men will do whatever is necessary to protect the Mars Energon Mine. Right now, I need Delta Squadron summoned to the next council metting. You are all dismissed."

Jim landed in Cranberry City, where he spent his adolescence. He had made arrangements to meet a long time friend of his, Kimberly Francis, who still lived in the area, and hoped to find help from her while he planned his next move. As he set the ship down, he noticed a large freighter docked next to her home. It was the Sabra!

He ran down the ramp, looking at the ship he helped build, when he was suddenly tackled by none other than Kim, who had been waiting for he and Max. She hugged max while Jim was getting up, and smiled brightly. "It's so good to see you guys!" She looked the two of them over. "You guys look exausted. Let me get you something to eat."

"Where did you get the Sabra?" Jim asked, laughing. "I though it was surely impounded on the Corellia after our escape."

"I heard about your escape, and paid the fine, then had it delivered. I couldn't let a dream I helped come true be sold at auction, could I?"

Kim was happy that Jim was pleased. He had a hard month or two, with the Alliance throwing him out and such. She looked back at Max, who also seemed pleased to see Jim in a good mood for a change. She motioned them over to her home. "Please, there are others who are here to see you, come in."

Jim and Max, leaving their weapons behind, followed Kim into the house, where more people of their past were waiting. Alexandra Napoli, famed singer of the Manchester choir, was taking refuge during the invasion. She jumped into a hug with Jim, and broke into tears.

"We thought you had died! The Alliance is so stupid."

Jim sat her down, assuring her that he was not dead. He looked up to see another smiling face. John Eaves, who preferred the name J.C., had also arrived at Earth. "We heard about Mobius and feared the worst. Good to see you in once piece Jimmy."

"Did you hear what happened at Jupiter?" Alex asked, drying her eyes, then started crying again. "Steve…he…"

"Yes, I heard. It's been a long road. Steve will have not died in vain. That's why I need your help."

He explained his hiding with Dumbledore, and his willingness to fight again. They agreed to help, but needed to know where to go next. They discussed this, as the news came on the holonet terminal in the kitchen.

"….-Admiral Russell has assumed command of the Alliance High Council, and has ordered the feared Delta Squadron into service. Until now the Deltas were thought to be myth, which had its origins in the United States Army. The group, originally known as Delta Force, was supposedly the best trained soldiers on the planet. The alliance has its history with irony, however, and has created this new Delta Squadron in spirit of the Delta Force Legend. Members of Delta have been recalled, and their orders still remain classified. In other news, the whereabouts of the ex-commander James George is still unknown, and authorities, fearing annihilation by the power hungry meta-human, have not done much in effort to locate him. The Alliance has posted bounties on the mad man, in attempt to-…"

J.C. turned the receiver off, frowning. "Your parents have been questioned. Your sister's house was raided. The Alliance really has it out for you. We need to get you off planet. I don't know what Dumbledore thought, keeping you here, where you can't do anything."

"I know. That's why I left. Brenton is probably looking for me right now…"

"Not to mention," Max said as he took off his armored wristlets, "Weasley and that girl."

"Yes, I've heard much from Brenton about this Jessica Sarath." J.C. said, smiling, "Anything you can tell me about her Jimmy?"

"She's a witch," Jim said. "She was on medical duty aboard the Corellia and Dumbledore said she was to be trusted."

"That's not all Brenton's told me. Katarn saw you two in the faculty room after Deneb. You two got along nicely from what he saw, and then Brenton got word."

"What?" Jim said, taken aback... "I…Now look here…I was only…"

"Enough Jim." Kim said, rolling her eyes. "It's ok. Really. It's about time, actually."

"She only offered to heal me with her magic. I used my own. She was amazed. End of story."

"Alright, I get it." She smiled. Jim's expression did not change.

"But-"

"Now," she interrupted, "What to do about you two."

"Max should go back to the Alliance," J.C. said. "They are still the only force opposing the Empire. He will do the most there."

"No, I'm staying with Jim," Max said. "As long as we get to the Corellia we should be alright. Our ship can't get close, it's not registered. Won't make it past the defenses."

Well, the Sabra is registered to me." Kim said. "I guess we could take you there."

"No," Jim said. "I can't let you get any closer to the coming battle. You are safer here on Earth. It's the most protected."

"There is no way we are letting you go off alone. You can't take the Sabra either, you'll never get past security. Like it or not, I'm coming with you."

"And so am I," J.C. said, standing up.

"And me," Alex said, standing next to Kim.

"You aren't going to win this argument Jim," Max said, picking up his things. "We might as well get moving. The Deltas are about to ship out. The sooner we get there the better."

Jim wiped his face off with the back of his hand, thinking, and then looked up. "I guess I'm not going to get my way this time."

Kim smiled, "Then let's go."

The five of them moved out to the Sabra. Jim and Max transferred their belongings from their smaller ship. The last thing Jim grabbed was the box that held his mini-con.

"Still carrying that stupid thing, eh?" J.C. asked.

"There's more to it than you know." Jim said, mood unchanging. "Let's just get going."

They lifted off, and left Cranberry behind.